Dodgers Bring Kiké Hernandez Back From Red Sox For Two Relief Prospects

Image credit: Enrique Hernandez (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES—The Dodgers are bringing a fan favorite back to Chavez Ravine.

The Dodgers acquired veteran utilityman Kiké Hernandez from the Red Sox on Tuesday in exchange for righthanded relief prospects Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman. Hernandez played for the Dodgers from 2015-20 and had his best seasons in Los Angeles before signing a two-year, $14 million contract with the Red Sox followed by a one-year, $10 million extension.

Hernandez lost the Red Sox’s starting shortstop job this year amidst his worst season, but his ability to play multiple positions and hit lefthanded pitching fill a need for the Dodgers, who rank 29th in the majors with a .227 batting average against lefties this year.

“We think being back home, the familiarity, he can kind of tap back into being the player we’ve seen,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Robertson ranked as the Dodgers No. 25 prospect and has had two stints in the majors this year. Hagenman did not rank in the Dodgers Top 30 and was pitching at Triple-A Oklahoma City. The two provide the Red Sox a pair of close-to-the-majors relief options who can help their bullpen in the near future.

RED SOX ACQUIRE

Nick Robertson, RHP
Age: 25

A seventh-round pick out of James Madison in 2019, Robertson quickly emerged as an intriguing relief prospect in the Dodgers organization and progressively climbed the minors before making his major league debut this year. Robertson struggled to a 6.10 ERA in his first nine big league appearances this year, but he went 2-0, 2.54 with 42 strikeouts and just nine walks in 28.2 innings as the closer at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Robertson is a big 6-foot-6, 265-pound righthander who floods the strike zone and goes right after hitters with an aggressive, attacking mentality. His fastball sits 94-95 mph, touches 98 and plays well despite a lack of elite pitch characteristics. Hitters have a difficult time picking the ball up out of his delivery and his up-tempo pace keeps them from getting comfortable. Robertson’s primary secondary is a firm, upper-80s changeup he’s comfortable throwing against lefties and righties, and he’ll mix in an occasional vertical slider in the mid 80s. Robertson has weapons to get both lefthanded and righthanded hitters out and a fearless, aggressive mentality that fits in high-leverage relief. He is nearly big league ready and should debut with the Red Sox shortly.

Justin Hagenman, RHP
Age: 25

A 23rd-round pick out of Penn State in 2018, Hagenman struggled as a starter in college but had success after moving to the bullpen in pro ball. He progressively made his way up the Dodgers’ system and was in the midst of his best season this year, going 4-0, 2.78 with 60 strikeouts and 11 walks in 55 innings while working as a multi-inning reliever at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Hagenman’s fastball sits 92-94 mph with arm-side run and his low-80s slider is his best swing-and-miss offering. He also has a mid-80s changeup and an occasional cutter he’ll mix in. All of Hagenman’s pitches are fringy to below-average, but he fills up the strike zone with above-average control and executes well. His ability to handle righthanded hitters (.551 OPS) and pitch multiple innings give him a chance to carve out a role in the Red Sox’s bullpen.

DODGERS ACQUIRE

Kiké Hernandez, INF/OF
Age: 31

Hernandez hit .222 with a career-worst .599 OPS this season and lost the Red Sox’s starting shortstop job, but the Dodgers hope a return to a part-time role will help spur improvement. Hernandez has historically hit lefties well—although he’s hit just .260 with a .652 OPS against them this year—and he still has the athleticism to play multiple positions around the diamond. He will serve as a righthanded-hitting platoon partner with James Outman in center field and spell the Dodgers infielders as needed at second base, shortstop and third base. Hernandez is signed through the end of this season and will be a free agent at the end of the year.